state parks day

All Texas state parks offer free entry for one day in November

Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose is one of the many state parks that will have free entry on November 2.

tpwd.texas.gov/

North Texans who haven't touched grass recently will get their chance to reconnect with nature at a local state park for free for one day only this fall. In honor of Texas State Parks Day on Sunday, November 2, Texas residents can enjoy free admission to more than 85 state parks.

It has been a stellar year for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The department has acquired several parcels of land to create new state parks or expand existing ones, and it's actively working on a deal to acquire a 54,000-acre ranch outside San Antonio. In May 2025, TPWD launched its new podcast that dives into park conservation initiatives, explores "hidden gem" parks around the state, and more.

Now the agency is gearing up for its third annual free admission day, which was established during the Texas State Parks Centennial Celebration.

The department recommends travelers reserve "Save the Day" passes to guarantee entry to the park they want to visit. Day passes are non-transferable, only valid for a visitor's chosen entry time slot, and are valid until 10 pm or whenever the park closes.

The following parks around North Texas will have free admission on Texas State Parks Day:

Cedar Hill State Park
Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose
Cleburne State Park
Meridian State Park
Lake Whitney State Park
Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
Fort Richardson State Park, Historic Site and Lost Creek Reservoir State Trailway
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Pilot Point
Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point
Purtis Creek State Park, Eustace

Visitors heading west should keep in mind that they won't be able to access Palo Pinto Mountains State Park in Strawn, which closed for construction in January 2025.

Dallasites who want to get the most out of their day can visit award-winning Garner State Park, which was named one of the top 10 best state parks in the U.S. for 2025. The spacious park is about 350 miles from Dallas, and sits on 1,774 acres of land. Hikers have 16 miles of trails to explore across varying difficulties, or visitors can swim, float, or kayak down 2.9 miles of the Frio River that runs through the park.

Day passes for Texas State Parks Day can be reserved online or by calling the TPWD customer service center at 512-389-8900.

texas parks and wildlife department free events state parks dallas

Airline News

Frontier Airlines adds two new destination cities out of DFW Airport

Frontier Airlines/ Facebook

undefined

Low-cost Denver-based Frontier Airlines has launched nonstop service from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to two new destinations in Central America.

According to a release, the carrier will offer the following new flights:

Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA) - weekly
San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL) - 2x/week

With these new routes, Frontier will serve 40 destinations nonstop from DFW, exemplifying Frontier’s impressive network growth as it continues to add more affordable and convenient travel options across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America.

The frequency of the flights is a little confusing. Guatemala City is "weekly" which seems to imply "once a week." San Salvador is "2x/week" which seems to imply two flights a week. However, if you try to book a flight to either city, you get all sorts of options, including weekends and a few randomly spaced weekdays. And the flight availability extends only through January.

Frontier Airlines VP of network and operations design Josh Flyr says in a statement that "there’s a lot to be excited about" including their expanding network and their rolling out First Class in early 2026.

Other changes at Frontier include UpFront Plus seating, an upgraded seating option with extra leg and elbow room in the first two rows of the aircraft, with choice of a window or aisle seat with extra legroom and a guaranteed empty middle seat.

To celebrate, they'll offer a fare sale starting at $79. Tickets must be purchased by 10:59 pm Dallas time on December 30, 2025. Sale fares are valid for nonstop travel on select days of the week January 5-April 13, 2026. Blackout dates apply on March 9 and March 31, and from April 1-6. And a 14-day advance purchase is required.

airport transportation openings